John Howard Hinton

John Howard Hinton (23 March 1791 – 11 December 1873) was an Englishauthor and Baptistminister who published, along with many other works, The History and Topography of the United States of North America together with his brother Isaac Taylor Hinton (1799-1847). He is the father of surgeon James Hinton and grandfather of mathematician and science fiction author Charles Howard Hinton.

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John Howard Hinton was born in Oxford in 1791 to James Hinton (1761–1823) and Ann Hinton.[1] His Father, James Hinton, was a pastor in Oxford, and ran a school. Hinton was taught at his father's school where he became friends with Edward Steane.[2] Hinton first preached in Reading, afterwards became pastor of a Baptist church in London, and was distinguished as an independent and original preacher, and a zealous advocate for liberty in religion and politics, for example arguing that it was the church's responsibility to punish "violations of morality", such as lying, whereas the state should limit itself to enforcing "offences against society" (which might encompass the former, such as theft).[3]

For many yeats Hinton was a joint secretary of the Baptist Union with his lifelong friend Edward Steane.[2]